There's a neat little film on Amazon that clearly explains the cycle of cue-routine-reward process of our habits.

Vacations are the perfect time to change habits and to form new ones Duhigg suggests. We can brush our teeth a new way if we're on vacation. Here's hoping au revoir to daily ice cream cones!

Climbing stairs (32 steps) in my building hourly has become a new habit. Plus going outside for a gulp of fresh air while I'm at it. It's an easy habit to form and takes just 2 minutes. Then I mark it on a dry-erase 'hourly' chart. That's my reward + the gulp of fresh air.

Will I continue to climb stairs while in Paris? Do I have a choice? Paris is never short of stairs to climb.

Have I lost weight since I started 2 weeks ago? I don't have a scale but redistribution is going on. I can button my coat all the way these days. Plus I feel terrific.

Ahhhh; good old serendipity!I heard a brief snippet of DuHigg's interview on NPR as I happened to be driving to Barnes and Noble. Try as I might I could not recall the title, so the clerk could not find it.So a BIG "Thank You", Carol, for this post.Our long standing friendship sometimes puts us on the same wavelength, it seems.Looking forward to your blog-missives from afar in the coming weeks.

I do this at work--I get up and walk up and down 3 flights of stairs several times during the day to get me moving and thinking about things. Our campus has such hills and stairs all over, and I do try to take them as often as I can. Instead of just putting letters or bills I'm mailing in the mailbox, I walk up the hill and head to the PO on campus for the exercise. It's a good habit. As for an ice cream cone a day...hmmmmm...I don't do that!

It takes 21 days to get into a good habit.. it only takes one bite of Ice cream for me to be OUT of the habit of eating it. :) Good ideas on doing the stairs and getting fresh air.. it does refuel the creative energy too.

ooh, you've inspired me now - that sounds so much more manageable (and less daunting) than committing to a gym session. And you did have me gasping for a moment "Omg are those her stairs??" before you disillusioned me :(

That's too funny Carol. Was waiting for the lift in Glasgow yesterday and 2 huge posters were stuck to the doors asking if it wasn't just easier to get fit and use the stairs. So I took the lift with a heavy suitcase (otherwise I would have, honest!) Great idea. I do love it when we we're told to break habits and take a vacation, don't you? Sounds a good book - should tempt it past hubby.

I am a follower and until today, didn't realize that you don't live in Paris! I love your perspective and your thoughts. I spent a week in Paris on the Il St. Louis and fell madly, deeply in love! I was even inspired to start a new business while visiting!Paris has transformed me.I really do enjoy waking up each morning and reading your posts while sipping my coffee!

I couldn’t help but to admire and laugh at your post today, as, I live in NYC and have visited 7 museums, and, I am obsessed with photographing staircases wherever I go!I was so sore at the beginning of the week, that my knees could hardly bend!Have a great day.

ParisBreakfast Letters

♥carol gillott♥

l'Ile Saint Louis, Paris, Ile de France, France

Hi I'm Carol Gillott,
My Mom taught me watercolors at 5. I'm still at it on l'Ile Saint-Louis In Paris. Subscribe to my watercolor Paris letters and maps on Etsy and enjoy a Parisian souvenir in your mailbox every month. Savor with a hot chocolate and croissant.
I paint Paris dreams.